Typewriting machine



June 26, 1934. A THOMAS 1,964,371

TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l mva/vfar Af/WJune 26, 1934. w. A. THOMAS TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETYPEWRITING MACHINE Application August 24, 1929, Serial No. 388,068

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable attachment for a portabletypewriter, and is illustrated. in connection with the standard four-rowUnderwood portable machine.

The main object of the invention is to make it practicable to typewritefrom a paper roll upon a portable machine, as now constructed, withoutsacrificing the portability and compactness of the machine, or the sizeand form of the carrying case. When the machine is to be carried about,the paper-roll is detached from a supporting frame and deposited in theopen space over the type-bar basket. The roll does not protrude farenough above the machine to preclude closing the cover down thereon. Thesupporting frame is in the form of a unit made up of a number of parts,some of which for transportation may be packed in the machine over thekeyboard, and others may extend alongside of the typewriter upon thetypewriter baseboard.

When it is desired to typewrite, the cover is removed from the machine,and the framing is readily attached to the typewriter-carriage, and thepaper-roll is readily placed in position upon the framing, the latterextending upwardly and rearwardly from the typewritercarriage, and beingso attached that it may be readily lifted off when it is desired to packthe machine again for transportation. The framing includes a pair ofstandards that are caught over rods that are usually provided upon thestandard carriage.

Said standards carry the paper-roll between them; and provision is alsomadefor attaching to said standards a transverse frame having a tear-offknife for the paper-web.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the web-support thatwhen disassembled the parts can be put in a very small flat space, likean envelope, an readily shipped from place to place.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic form of Underwood portabletypewriter-carriage, in perspective, with the portable roll-supportattached.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an Underwood portable typewriter inits case, partly broken away, showing the roll-holder and roll depositedtherein for transportation.

Figure 3 shows the roll-holder, in perspective, with the partsseparated.

Figure 4 is a side view of the roll-holder in place for operation with atypewriter carriage.

Figure 5 shows how the roll-holder can be removed as a unit from thecarriage-rods.

A carriage has the usual platen l1 and knob 12, and the usual feed-rolls13, 14, and 16. In the rear portion of the carriage are the usual rods17 and 18. A lever 19 is mounted on the rod 18 to release the feed-rollsunder the platen.

On these two rods 17 and 18 are loosely mounted standards or risers 20and 21 at opposite ends of the machine. A spindle 22 which supports aroll or web 23 of paper rests in notches 24 and 25 of the standards 20and 21. In the lower end of the standards are slots 26 and 2'7 of justsufficient size to fit over the rods 17 and 18. The lower part of theslot 26 is made with its sides parallel to the side of the slot 27, butthe upper part of the slot 26 is in an arcuate form with the center ofthe circle the same as that which forms the top of the slot 27.

This is done for the purpose of holding the device on the machine moresecurely as it is necessary to'move the upper part of the standard 20forward before it can be lifted off the rods 17 and 18. Therefore it islocked against removal until the whole device is swung forward, whichreleases it so that it can be lifted off.

Two headed pins or screws 28 and 29 are secured in holes in the platejust below the center of the standard 20. They are spaced about onehalfan inch from one another, and project so that the space between theirheads and the standard 20 is just sufficient to allow the freeattachment and retention of a lateral arm or member 30 by a slot 31which terminates at a pocke or seat 32, offset from the slot. 0

The outer end of the lateral member 30 is formed with a U-shaped end 33having two registering holes 34 and 35. In the main section of themember 30 is a rectangular opening 36, and near the center of its lengthis a screw 37, about which is wound a spring 38 tensioned by a pin 39.

On the opposite side of the machine is another lateral arm or member 40of the same shape and construction, only in the reverse order.

The members 30 and 40 may be held in position laterally by a rod 41,formed the same at both ends; therefore a description of one end willsuffice for both. The rod 41 has a pin 42 extending through it near theend, to act as a stop. The extreme end 43 is made cone-shaped. Betweenthe pin 42 and the end 43 is a circumferential groove 44.

In front of and slightly above the rod 41 is an L-shaped bar 45 which isbeveled at one edge 46 to form a knife for cutting off the paper. Thisbar 45 is formed with a lug or tongue 47 at each end, having shoulders48 and 49 to act as stops to stiffen the structure when the tongues areassembled in the openings 36'.

The parts are assembled as follows: The lateral arm or member 30 issecured to the standard 20 by dropping the slot 31 over the screws 28and 29 until the offset seat 32 slides over the shank of screw 29 bygravity, which locks it into position by the overhanging weight of thearm. The other lateral arm or member is engaged with the standard 21 inthe same way. i r

The end 43 of the rod 41 is now pushed through the hole 34 and thepointed end causes it to depress the spring 38 and enter the hole 35. Asthe rod is pushed, the spring rides over the coneshaped end until thepin 42 strikes the arm BO, when the spring 38 snaps into the groove 44,thus frictionally holding the parts together. The lug 47 of the bar isnext inserted in the rectangular hole 36 and the same steps are gonethrough with the arm 40 at the opposite end of the rod 41.

After these parts have been assembled the standards 20 and 21 aredropped upon the rods 17 and 18, as shown in Figure 1, the weight of theattachment holding it upon the rods.

The spindle 22 is put through the roll 23 and the ends allowed to restin the notches 24. and 25, and the weight of the roll supplements theweight of the fixture to hold the attachment upon the two rods.

A Web is passed from the roll around the platen 11 in the regular way,and, after passing the upper feed-rolls above the printing line, it isthreaded between the cutter bar 45 and rod 41.

These members are spaced so as to allow free passage of the paper. Whenthe typing of a sheet has been completed the paper is drawn diagonallyacross the knife-edge 46 in the usual way.

By reference to Figure 2 it will be seen that the parts of thepaper-support are so proportioned that by removing the spindle 22 andweb-roll 23 the remainder can be lifted bodily off the rods 17 and 18and placed over the first row of keys 51 in the portable machine, andthe spindle 22 can rest on the ledge of the base 52 beside the frame 53of the machine. The web-roll 23 can be so proportioned as to fit intothe type-basket 54 and all can therefore be readily enclosed in theportable case 55 of the machine, which makes a convenient arrangementfor transportation, and prevents the parts from being mislaid or lost.

It will be noted that all the parts are made of thin metal, and aretherefore light in weight, but owing to their construction and method ofassembling are sumciently strong and rigid to withstand the necessaryshocks of operation.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, andportions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a roll-support for a typewriting machine, the combination of apair of supports, a pair of headed pins projecting from the sides ofeach support, a pair of arms, each arm having a pair of slots to engagesaid pins, aligned holes in the free end of each arm, a shouldered rodfitting into said holes for spacing said arms, and means for detachablysecuring each support on the machine.

2. In a roll-support for typewriting machines, the combination of endsupports, slots in said end supports for receiving a spindle for awebroll, headed pins fastened to said end supports, laterally-projectingarms, slots in said arms for engaging said headed pins, U-shaped endsfor said arms, holes through the sides of the U- shaped portionregistering with one another, a rod fitting said holes, means forsecuring said rod in said U-shaped portion, an L-shaped bar secured tosaid arms near their ends, and means: for detachably securing theroll-support on a typewriter.

3. In a roll-support for a typewriting machine, the combination ofdiscrete end supports, a spindle on said supports for supporting a rollof paper, headed pins on said supports, arms projecting forwardly fromsaid end supports, a slot in the rear end of each arm to engage saidpins, an offset seat formed in the end of each of said slots to locksaid arms on said pins by their overhanging weight, a stiffening rodconnecting the forward ends of said arms, the supports, arms and rodforming a unit, and means to detachably engage and lock said unit uponthe machine by means of said roll-supports.

4. In a roll-support for a typewriter, the combination of end supports,means for holding a web-roll spindle in said supports, studs projectingfrom one face of said supports, arms having slots with offset end seatsat the rear ends thereof to engage said studs, U-shaped portions at thefree ends of the arms, registeringholes through both sides of the U, aspacing rod fitting said holes, a circumferential groove in each end ofsaid rod, a spring on each arm for engaging a groove when the parts arepressed together, a knife secured to the outer ends of said arms andadjacent said rod to cut the web, and means for detachably securing saidsupports on the typewriter.

5. A roll-supporting unit for a typewriter, having in combination a pairof discrete supports, a projecting arm secured to each support, adetachable spacing brace between said arms at their forward ends, frontand rear parallel slots in each support, and an offset extension in eachrear slot to provide for rocking the roll-support rearwardly and lookingit in position, to secure the unit upon the typewriter.

6. A collapsible supporting unit for a web-roll for a typewriter, havingin combination a pair of discrete supports, a detachable arm on eachsupport, and a detachable rod for bracing and spacing said arms, a pairof parallel slots being provided in the lower end of each support, oneof each pair of slots having an offset section to seat and lock saidsupports on parts of the typewriter to prevent displacement of the unit.

'7. A knock-down support for a web-roll for the carriage of a portabletypewriter, including demountable discrete end supports, a spindle,notches in the top of said supports to receive said spindle, screws inthe side of each support, an arm for each support having an open slot toengage said screws by the weight of said arm, a connecting rod, meansfor detachably securing said rod to the forward ends of said arms, saidsupports, arms and rod forming a rigid unit, and parallel open slots atthe bottom of each end support to engage and look upon a pair ofparallel standard parts of the carriage.

8. A readily detachable paper-roll appliance for the carriage of aportable typewriter, having rods, said appliance including a pair ofrisers 2- having forks to engage the rods and a roll-axle removablysupported upon the risers, said axle being at the rear of the rear rodto enable the weight of the roll to hold down the risers upon the rodsand give the risers a tendency to r t t upon the rear rod and bindagainst the front rod, so as to render the paper-roll and mountself-supporting upon the carriage, said axle and risers being readilyremovable.

9. A unit for supporting a paper-roll in a portable typewriter, saidunit having, in combination, a pair of discrete standards to carry therollspindle, and means connecting said standards, including armsextending forwardly from the standards and also including a spacer rodrigidly connecting the arms together at their forward ends, each of saidstandards having slots fitting over supports provided upon thetypewriter, one of said slots having an extension to permit rocking thestandard and looking it, said unit being detachable by unlocking andlifting said standards from the machine and the unit being adapted forhanging down over the keyboard of the machine with the standards incumbent position for transportation.

10. A unit for supporting a paper-roll in a portable typewriter, saidunit having, in combination, a pair of discrete standards to carry theroll-spindle, and means connecting said standards, including armsextending forwardly from the standards, and also including a spacer rodrigidly connecting the arms together at their forward ends, each of saidstandards having slots fitting over supports provided upon thetypewriter, one of said slots having an extension to permit rocking thestandard and looking it, said unit being detachable by unlocking andlifting said standards from the machine and the unit being adapted forhanging down over the keyboard of the machine with the standards incumbent position for transportation, said spacer rod being detachablyconnected to the forward ends of said arms, and the rear ends of saidarms being detachably connected to said standards, whereby the partswhen manufactured may be compactly packed in knocked-down condition forshipment, and may be readily assembled into the described unit forattaching to and locking upon the machine.

WILLIAM A. THOMAS.

